▪ I. toaster1
(ˈtəʊstə(r))
[f. toast v.1 + -er1.]
1. One who toasts anything by the fire.
| 1582 Stanyhurst Conceits in æneis, etc. (Arb.) 137 Chymneys fyrye be scorching Of Cyclopan tosters. 1861 J. Pycroft Agony Point (1862) 233 Dear Willie should be made a fag..a toaster of muffins, with no time to eat his own. |
2. a. A toasting-fork. Humorously, a rapier or similar weapon. Cf. cheese-toaster: cheese n.1 7. b. A kind of cheese, bread, or the like, that toasts (well or otherwise, as expressed).
| 1695 in Verney Mem. (1907) II. 475 A Silver Toster to toast bread on. 1751 Smollett Per. Pic. xxiv, His assailant..desired he would lay aside his toaster [i.e. rapier] and take a bout with him at equal arms. 1838 Maginn in Fraser's Mag. XVII. 8 Sliced into steaks,..Pierced on the toaster's point. 1845 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. VI. i. 107, I have tasted some of these cheeses, and find them..fair toasters. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. ii. 9/2 ‘Here's toasters!’ bellows one with a Yarmouth bloater stuck on a toasting-fork. |
3. An electric appliance for toasting bread; = electric toaster s.v. electric a. 2 b. See also pop-up toaster s.v. pop-up a. b.
| 1913 Maclean's Mag. Feb. 163/1 Electric cooking appliances—the shining nickel-plated or aluminum utensils, including coffee percolators, toasters, chafing dishes, each with its long connecting cord and plug for attachment to the electric light socket. 1948 Clarke County Democrat (Grove Hill, Alabama) 2 Dec. 4/4 Frigidaire Ranges, Water Heaters, Sunbeam Mixmasters, Toasters..are here. 1962 A. Lurie Love & Friendship x. 187 He has to have it quiet so he can fix our toaster for us. 1975 C. Fremlin Long Shadow xi. 82 The second lot of crumpets were out of the toaster. |
4. Special Comb.: toaster-oven, a small oven suitable for toasting, broiling, and baking.
| 1961 Better Homes & Gardens Sept. 74/2 Toasters come in family-fitting styles... New dual purpose styles: a toaster-oven and a toaster-broiler. 1976 Woman's Day (U.S.) Nov. 124 The island's taller side..houses a microwave oven, toaster-oven and..a waffle grill. 1980 Redbook Oct. 54/1 In the kitchen, use a small toaster-oven whenever possible rather than the main oven, particularly if the latter is electric. |
▪ II. ˈtoaster2
[f. toast v.2 + -er1.]
One who proposes or joins in a toast; in quot. 1896, = toast-master (see toast n.2 3).
| a 1704 T. Brown Amusem. Ser. & Com. iv. Wks. 1709 III. i. 42 That Toaster there, is it Possible he can give a Judgment of the Beauties of a Play, while he is wholly taken up in Surveying those of the Ladies? 1720 Humourist 182 Chief Toaster at a Drinking-Match. 1896 E. P. Powell in Chicago Advance 5 Nov. 614, I would arrange that..the sophomores occupy the special place of entertainers and toasters. |
▪ III. toaster3
(ˈtəʊstə(r))
[f. toast v.3 + -er1.]
In reggae, one who accompanies music by speaking or shouting.
| 1976 in Cassidy & Le Page Dict. Jamaican Eng. (1980) 507/2 The toaster has the microphone; he introduces the performers, comments, beats time and talks with the music—keeps things lively. 1977 Melody Maker 5 Feb. 16/2 New albums by two of Jamaica's most popular toasters. 1980 Guardian 6 Nov. 9/1 Blue..is a garage mechanic by day and a ‘toaster’ for a reggae group by night. |